Jamaat's Strategic Rebranding: Military Outreach & China Courtship Ahead of Bangladesh Polls

• Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami chief Dr Shafiqur Rahman met retired military officers and Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen, signaling a rebranding effort.
• The outreach aims to project Jamaat as a mainstream political force with institutional credibility ahead of February general elections.
• Dr Shafiqur focused on national security and stability in his meeting with military veterans, avoiding religious language.
• China's engagement with Jamaat, including Ambassador Yao Wen's visit, is seen as a transactional calculation for influence and leverage.
• Indian intelligence views Jamaat's moderation as a 'Trojan Horse' tactic to legitimize its entry into state institutions.

Why It Matters: Jamaat-e-Islami is strategically rebranding through military and Chinese outreach before Bangladesh elections.